Is Sunscreen a threat to Bonaire’s reefs?

Scientists have been researching the harmful effects of sunscreen on corals for more than a decade. The most leading scientist in this area of research, is Dr. Craig Downs Executive Director, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL), Viriginia USA, who has focused his scientific research on oxybenzone; a UV filter used in many sunscreens. Craig Downs’ research has led to a dedicated community movement on Hawaii that has been raising awareness and that has also been advocating legislation to ban sunscreens with oxybenzone on Hawaii.

The threat that sunscreens containing Oxybenzone form to our reefs on Bonaire is very complex, but the solution can be quite simple.

The reality of today is that our reefs face many threats, such as climate change and the subsequent increase of water temperatures, and water pollution through sewage and sedimentation. In most cases, global environmental issues need global solutions. However, water pollution by sunscreens with Oxybenzone, is a global issue that can actually be solved locally. According to Dutch scientist Diana Slijkerman of Wageningen Marine Research, getting rid of harmful sunscreens on Bonaire is “totally do-able”.

The effects of Oxybenzone

The UV filter Oxybenzone impacts the coral in various ways thereby affecting the corals natural integrity to withstand other pressures such as climate change, because it:

Acts a hormone disruptor, and harms or kill coral larvae by inducing deformities;

Induces DNA damage and viral infections;

Bio-accumulates in coral tissue;

May enhance coral bleaching.

In laymen terms this means that sunscreens containing Oxybenzone cause irreversible damage to corals in general, but are specifically life threatening to juvenile corals.

Research of harmful effects sunscreen on Bonaire

Recent studies done by Dr. Diana Slijkerman (Wageningen Marine Research) also showed that Oxybenzone can be found on Bonaire. She studied the potential risks of Oxybenzone and three other UV-filters and has specifically looked at the concentrations in Sorobon, the nearby mangrove and Lac Cai, and estimated the risk of the actual concentrations towards the nursery areas in the surroundings. Contrary to three years ago, Bonaire now receives cruise ships all year round. Cruise ship tourists visit Sorobon with increasing frequency, resulting in a large increase in sunbathers. Consequently, these sunbathers increase the risk of sunscreen with potentially damaging UV filters ending up in the water of the Lac Bay area. The risk assessment performed shows that the environmental risk and potential effects resulting from this emerging pollution cannot be denied, especially in the scope of increasing tourism. Diana Slijkerman concludes that it would be wise to take precautionary measures to prevent future environmental effects.

What can we do to preserve our reefs on Bonaire?

Bonaire is not the first to acknowledge the harmful effects of Oxybenzone in sunscreen products and hopefully not the last. Hawaii has paved the way for Bonaire and we can learn from the steps that they have taken to educate tourists and inhabitants. There are simple steps you can take to make a difference and safeguard coral reefs on Bonaire:

Do not use sunscreens with Oxybenzone. Inform yourself and read the ingredient list; look for Oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone3 (or BP-3). Note: Manufacturers can make false claims, promoting their sunscreens as reef safe products. If sunscreens do contain Oxybenzone they are NOT reef friendly!

Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before entering the water, this way the sunscreen has time to be absorbed to the skin, which decreases the wash off fraction when entering the water.

Prefer lotions over spray cans, Aerosol spreads sunscreen much further so that it is able to form a film (thin layer) on the water surface;

Wear protective clothing instead, such as long sleeved wet shirts and hats to protect against the sun. Clothes have their own UV protection rating, called UPF. Synthetic fabrics have a higher UPF than cotton fabric, especially when wet.

Next steps for Bonaire

Boneiru Duradero and Wageningen Marine Research, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in the Netherlands, are going to organize a seminar on the harmful effects of sunscreens containing Oxybenzone early next year. Lead speakers at this event are Dr. Craig Downs (HEL) and Dr. Diana Slijkerman (WUR), who will share their scientific research with participants.

The first goal of this seminar is to create island wide awareness about the possible threats to our reefs, caused by sunscreens with Oxybenzone. The second goal is to unite all resellers of sunscreen products on Bonaire in a common goal to only sell sunscreens that are FREE of Oxybenzone. Bonaires’ economy largely depends on healthy coral reefs and therefore it is not unreasonable to expect local businesses and inhabitants of Bonaire to contribute to pro-actively solve this potential problem. The hope is that this initiative will be carried forward by other islands in the region.

See the following links to published articles on this topic, to learn more: